U.K. thrash metal veterans Onslaught have announced the return of their iconic vocalist, Sy Keeler, after a near six-year hiatus. Keeler will make his comeback on November 9 at the BEC Arena in Manchester at the U.K.’s Damnation Festival.
The group issued the following announcement on Wednesday (13th):
“Sy Keeler is back!
2026 “The Force From Hell” European tour announced
Onslaught are super stoked to announce the return of their legendary vocalist Sy Keeler!
After a 6-year hiatus Keeler will hit the ground running at the BEC Arena in Manchester on November 9th for an explosive show at the UK’s Damnation Festival! Following this Onslaught will be heading down under for the bands long-awaited Australian debut, before kicking off their freshly announced 2026 “The Force From Hell” European run!
Guitarist Nige Rockett comments: “Wow, this is truly incredible having Sy back in the ONSLAUGHT camp. He has always been seen as ‘THE’ ONSLAUGHT vocalist and we know the fans are gonna’ be blown away for sure. The band are in a truly great place right now after the success of the “Origins Of Aggression” release and this will be seen as amazing news, I’m sure.”
Sy states: “Well, that came out of nowhere! ‘Sy, would you consider rejoining the band?’ ‘Ugh! Yes, of course, I’ve really missed it.’ So almost 6 years on from my last gig, I’m very excited to be embarking on the 3rd chapter, looking forward to meeting old friends and of course making new ones, and of course having a few beers with my band mates. See you on the road very soon metalheads!”
Continuing the explosive success of their ongoing “Power From Hell” tour and their career-defining double-album “Origins Of Aggression” (released on May 22, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music), the band are ready to turn the pit into chaos once more with their “The Force From Hell” tour. In early 2026, they’ll be bringing the ultimate thrash assault to 22 cities all over the continent – a full-on fusion of their iconic debut “Power From Hell” and the 40th anniversary celebration of “The Force.”
ONSLAUGHT comment on their upcoming tour: “So looking forward to this one following on from the great success of the “Power From Hell” tour earlier this year: it’s gonna be a full on combination of the best of “Power From Hell” with “The Force” [40th anniversary] to create a totally monstrous set for those who we missed out last time… Let there be thrash – see you in the pit!””
2026 Tour Dates
01/28/2026, Haarlem, NL @ Patronaat
01/29/2026, Arnhem, NL @ Willemeen
01/30/2026, Dusseldorf, DE @ Pitcher
01/31/2026, Kortrijk, BE @ DVG Club
02/01/2026, Paris, FR @ Petit Bain
02/03/2026, Madrid, ES @ ReviLive
02/04/2026, Barcelona, ES @ Sala Wolf
02/05/2026, Lyon, FR @ Rock n’Eat
02/06/2026, Lucerne, CH @ Musikzentrum Sedel
02/07/2026, Weinheim, DE @ Café Central
02/08/2026, Munich, DE @ Backstage
02/10/2026, Prague, CZ @ MusicClub Modrá Vopice
02/11/2026, Warsaw, PL @ VooDoo Club
02/12/2026, Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia
02/13/2026, Hamburg, DE @ Logo
02/14/2026, Copenhagen, DK @ Spillestedet Stengade
02/15/2026, Gothenburg, SE @ Monument 031
02/17/2026, Oslo, NO @ John Dee
02/18/2026, Stockholm (Johanneshov), SE @ Hus 7
02/20/2026, Helsinki, FI @ Kult
02/21/2026, Tampere, FI @ Kotelo
